College of Engineering > Academic Programs > Aerospace Engineering > Academic Programs > Graduate > Graduate Handbook > Administration of the Graduate Programs

Administration of the Graduate Programs

6.1. Registration Procedures

The Graduate Program Officer will serve as your advisor and assist you in registering for classes until the time a permanent Major Professor is chosen. Your permanent Major Professor will assist you in registration in all subsequent semesters. Four people are involved in the registration of a graduate student: the student, the Major Professor, the Graduate Program Officer, and the dean of the Graduate School (or his representative). The student and Major Professor are responsible for selecting courses which support the student's program of study. It is important that the student, the Major Professor, and the Graduate Program Officer ensure that the requested academic load is compatible with any appointment held and within the rules and regulations established by the Graduate School. Specific registration instructions may be obtained from the Graduate School prior to each registration period. These instructions give detailed information regarding necessary registration procedures. Every student expecting credit toward a graduate degree must be registered with the Graduate School, and no student is considered a candidate for a degree unless properly registered. The student must also be registered in any semester during which the staff or facilities of the university are utilized for work on a thesis or dissertation, the taking of examinations, or the removal of an "incomplete" grade. Registration for GRAD 7000, Clearing Registration is sufficient for removal of incomplete grades and for graduation, but not for other purposes, such as work on a thesis or dissertation, or obtaining final approval of a thesis or dissertation.

6.2 Financial Assistance

The Aerospace Engineering Department recognizes the need to provide some measure of financial assistance to its graduate students. The department also recognizes that graduate students, in return, provide valuable services to the department's teaching and research activities. Thus, whenever possible, the department will attempt to provide financial assistance, through research assistantships, and teaching, to graduate students in good academic standing. All students requesting financial assistance must complete a departmental Financial Assistance Application before financial assistance can be awarded. Out-of-state tuition differentials are waived for graduate students receiving assistantships of one-fourth time or more and, in most cases, a waiver of in-state tuition will also be granted. Be aware that tuition will only be waived for up to 40 credit hours for master's degree students and up to 80 credit hours for doctoral students. If a student received a tuition waiver while a master's degree student, the 80 credit hours will apply to the total number of credit hours for which a tuition waiver was received while a student at Auburn University.

There are two types of assistantships available: Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA's) and Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA's). In general, graduate students who are employed in support of the teaching program (teaching classes or labs, grading papers, etc.) are appointed as GTA's, and those employed in support of the research program are appointed as GRA's. Students whose duties support both the teaching and research programs may receive combination GTA/GRA appointments. A foreign student must score a minimum of 220 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) or 26 on the iBT speaking score to receiving a GTA appointment which involves classroom or laboratory instruction. A Graduate Assistant Handbook is available online at the Graduate School website. The Aerospace Engineering Department has established the following policies concerning assistantship appointments:

1. The basic assistance level is generally considered to be a one-fourth Time appointment for M.S. students and one-third time appointment For Ph.D. students. An attempt will be made to provide each qualified applicant with an assistantship, subject to the availability of funds and suitable work assignments. Students with one-fourth time appointments are expected to spend an average of 10 (1/4 x 40) hours per week on their assigned duties. M.S. students will receive priority over M.A.E. students in the awarding of all assistantships.
2. 
   
   
3. The needs of the department or other university units may be such that an increased time appointment may be arranged by mutual agreement between the student and the department and/or other university units. If departmental funds are involved, such agreements are for one semester only, and while they may be renewed, no commitment for renewal should be inferred. The maximum allowable assistance level for international students is one-half time, requiring 20 hours per week to be spent on assigned duties.
4. 
   
   
5. Students should be aware that summer instructional funds are limited and that summer GTA appointments are usually not available. In general, GRA support continues throughout the calendar year if so provided in the research contract.
6. 
   
   
7. Students holding an appointment as a GTA or GRA should not accept other significant employment, either within or outside the university without prior approval of the Department Head and Graduate Program Officer. While short-term casual employment will be permitted, such employment must not interfere with scheduled duties or academic progress.
8. 
   
   
9. The research effort of the student must not be allowed to interfere with his/her academic activities. Faculty members engaged in directing research projects should arrange trips (research-related) or meetings which require GRA participation. Advance approval of each class instructor and the Department Head should be obtained for student absences.
10. 
    
    
11. Due to limited financial resources, it is necessary that graduate students receiving financial assistance make expeditious progress in their degree program. In order to facilitate such progress masters degree students should understand that, in general, no assistantship will be granted for more than four semesters. Doctoral study implies a longer commitment, and the competency level of such students is expected to be high. Therefore, every effort will be made to support doctoral students for such a period of time as may be necessary for completion of their degree programs, provided the student is making satisfactory progress toward the degree.
12. 
    
    
13. Qualified students are strongly encouraged to seek scholarships and fellowships as a means of financial assistance.

6.3 Work Loads and Academic Loads

The Graduate School policy is that the department in which the student is enrolled shall be reasonable in assigning work loads based upon a student's academic load. The Aerospace Engineering Department has determined that graduate students awarded teaching or research assistantships should be enrolled as a full-time student, i.e, nine credit hours, during the fall and spring semesters. These credit hours can consist of course work, research, and seminar hours as appropriate. Students awarded an assistantship during the summer term are only required to be registered for 1 credit hour.

In addition, the Aerospace Engineering Department requires that on-campus graduate students not receiving financial assistance, be registered for a minimum of three credit hours per semester during the academic year in order to maintain an office in the Aerospace Engineering Building. These three hours must be part of or related to the student's Plan of Study but can consist only of research and seminar hours. There is no minimum credit hour requirement for unfunded students during the summer term. Under no circumstances should a student register for fewer research hours (AERO 7990/AE 8990) per semester that would be representative of the amount of time demanded of the Major Professor, faculty, or staff on a weekly basis. Any master's degree student receiving a tuition waiver is required to register for the maximum of 40 semester hours during his/her degree program.

6.4 INS Regulations for Foreign Students

Each F-1, nonimmigrant student who enters the United States is expected by the immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to maintain a full-time course-of-study during the entire time in F-1 student status. An F-1 student who does not pursue a full-time course-of-study is considered to be "out-of-status" and therefore, not eligible for immigration benefits. INS regulations require an F-1 graduate student be registered for 9 credit hours each semester to meet the full-time course-of-study requirement. Under certain conditions, INS regulations permit a "designated school official" to allow deviation from the full-time course-of-study requirement. There are five INS-approved "designated school officials" at Auburn University. It is the responsibility of the two "designated school officials" in the Office in International Education, 201 Hargis Hall, to periodically verify the status of an F-1 student to INS. Because of the need to fulfill INS requirements, it is necessary that a certification regarding the student's level of educational activity be provided by the Department Head. Conditions under which a student may be permitted to deviate from full-time enrollment while continuing to maintain legal F-1 student status are listed below.

1. The student is taking a vacation semester after completing the equivalent of an academic year (two consecutive semesters) immediately prior to the vacation semester.
2. 
   
   
3. The student is compelled by illness or other medical conditions to interrupt or reduce a course-of-study. (Physician's statement required; student must resume a full-time course-of-study upon recovery.)
4. 
   
   
5. The student has completed all course work and is engaged in substantial thesis-dissertation research.
6. 
   
   
7. The student has "English language difficulties and unfamiliarity with American teaching methods or reading requirements." (The student will be encouraged to seek assistance with language difficulties and to pursue a full-time course-of-study in future quarters.)
8. 
   
   
9. The student was advised to drop a course due to improper course level placement.
10. 
    
    
11. The student is graduating this semester and has completed, or is completing, all required course work.
12. 
    
    
13. Student is currently on approved practical training.
14. 
    
    
15. Student is enrolled concurrently at another institution, taking courses required for completion of the degree. Requests to deviate from full-time enrollment must be processed through the Office of International Education.

A student participant in the Exchange Visitor Program (J-1 academic student), is defined by INS regulation as "a student for the purpose of pursuing formal course, or any combination of courses, research, or teaching, leading to a recognized degree." Both F-1 and J-1 students are permitted by INS to enter the United States in order to pursue a substantial formal course-of-study and to complete that program in a timely manner. International students should be encouraged to complete their academic programs in a timely manner, so that they will be in compliance with the regulations which govern their temporary stay in the United States. On-campus students who are engaged only in research during the vacation semester, the minimum allowable academic load is one credit hour.